In the 128th episode of Mann Ki Baat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to the nation on recent events, cultural milestones, achievements in agriculture, science and sports, and India’s growing presence in the world. The major takeaways from what he said are here, clearly and in order:
Inspirational Moments in November
PM Modi said, the month of November brought many inspiring moments. Constitution Day was celebrated in the Central Hall with a special program on 26 November. The 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram also triggered celebrations countrywide.
On 25 November, the Dharmadhwaja was hoisted at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, and on the same day, the Panchajanya Memorial was inaugurated at Jyotisar in Kurukshetra.
Record-Breaking Food Production
India has created history and produced 357 million tonnes of food grains, which is a 100-million-tonne increase over what the country produced ten years ago.
ISRO Innovative Drone Competition
PM Modi referred to a video that he came across on social media. It showed the unique drone competition organized by ISRO, wherein young Gen-Z participants attempted to fly drones in Mars-like conditions.
India Rising Honey Production
In Jammu & Kashmir’s hilly areas, honeybees extract a rare white honey from wild basil (sulai), which is called Ramban Sulai honey and is already covered by the GI tag.
India is now setting new records in honey production:
11 years ago: 76,000 metric tonnes.
Today: Over 1.5 lakh metric tonnes. Honey exports, too, have risen more than threefold in recent years.
Global Celebrations of Indian Culture
For the first time, Gita was enacted publicly in Saudi Arabia. An interesting Gita Mahotsav was also organized in Latvia with participation by artists from Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, and Algeria.
Remembering Jam Saheb Humanity
PM Modi recalled India’s values of peace and compassion, highlighting the humanitarian work done by Jam Saheb Maharaja Digvijay Singh of Nawanagar during World War II, which still inspires people today.
Focus on Natural Farming
PM Modi visited Coimbatore for a major conference on natural farming. He said he was impressed by the number of young, highly qualified professionals in South India who take up natural farming as a career.
Kashi Tamil Sangamam
The Prime Minister spoke about the strong connection between Tamil language and Kashi. The 4th Kashi Tamil Sangamam starts from 2 December at Namo Ghat with an interesting and culturally rich topic this year.
Strengthening India Naval Power
PM Modi expressed pride in India’s swiftly improving defense capabilities. INS Mahe was recently inducted into the Indian Navy in Mumbai, drawing attention for its indigenous design and also for its culturally significant name, especially in Puducherry and the Malabar Coast. He called upon tourists to visit naval heritage sites like the INS Khukri Memorial and Museum in Diu.
Winter Tourism in Uttarakhand
Places like Auli, Munsyari, Chopta, and Dayara have become popular winter destinations. It was only a few weeks ago that Uttarakhand hosted its first High Altitude Ultra Run Marathon at Adi Kailash, 14,500 feet above sea level. Despite freezing temperatures, over 750 athletes from 18 states took part in the 60 km Adi Kailash Parikrama Run. The number of tourists coming to Adi Kailash has increased from less than 2,000 three years ago to more than 30,000 today.
The preparation of skiing, snowboarding, and other snow games is in full swing as Uttarakhand is also gearing up to host the Winter Games.
Rise of Destination Weddings
PM Modi spoke about the popularity of the “Wed in India” campaign during winters. From fog-clad mountains to the golden winter sun, hill regions especially areas along the banks of the Ganga are fast emerging as sought-after wedding destinations.
Smoothening Relations with Bhutan
PM Modi recalled his recent visit to Bhutan, which included a meeting with the King, the former King, and purposeful discussions that tightened the bond between the two countries.
Sacred Relics of Buddha Receive Global Respect
Recently, sacred relics of Bhagwan Buddha were sent from the National Museum to Kalmykia, Russia, where Buddhism has deep cultural significance.
He also presented world leaders with culturally relevant items during the G20 Summit: a Chola-era style bronze Nataraja statue to the President of South Africa.
India Shines in International Sports
Deaf Olympics, Tokyo India won a total of 20 medals, the country’s best performance ever. Women’s Kabaddi World Cup India’s women’s team created history as they won the tournament.
World Boxing Cup Finals Indian athletes won a total of 20 medals, showing extraordinary talent. Blind Cricket World Cup The Indian women’s team finished the tournament without losing any games, thus bringing pride to the entire nation.
Rise of Endurance Sports in India PM Modi pointed out that endurance sports like marathons and bikeathons were becoming increasingly popular. Once the domain of a few athletes, these events are now being embraced by people across the country.
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